7/10
Ani Even, the electrifying experimental project of Danish-Faroese-Greenlandic artist Bror, makes a stunning impression with 'SKINWALKER', an eleven-track odyssey of transformation, self-discovery, and defiance. From the first pulse of 'Be With Me', we are plunged into a world where darkwave tension meets industrial electricity, and where identity is fluid, multifaceted, and utterly compelling.
The album lives in the spaces between contrasts. Haunting piano lines intertwine with cavernous techno beats, fractured choirs resonate like echoes in a forgotten cathedral, and Ani Even’s voice shifts effortlessly between Danish, English, and Nordic utterances. Each track feels like a ritual in its own right, exploring the messy, beautiful terrains of fatherhood, addiction, climate anxiety, queerness, and self-acceptance.
Tracks ebb and flow with cinematic precision. Some pieces, anchored by thunderous industrial percussion, evoke a sense of imminent reckoning, while others lean into meditative chants and ethereal harmonies that feel carved from ice and fog. The mythical lyrical content gives 'SKINWALKER' its emotional core, balancing introspection with a palpable sense of ritualistic energy. Ani Even’s fearless experimentation ensures that no moment feels predictable; even as the music ventures into the avant-garde, the album retains a gripping emotional resonance.
'SKINWALKER' culminates in a release that is as much about ceremony as it is about exploration. For those seeking a bold, boundary-pushing exploration of self and sound, Ani Even delivers a record that is dark, luminous, and unforgettable.